After spending twenty-two
years in professional baseball -- eighteen of those in the
Major
Leagues -- I am now prepared to move on to a more challenging
goal: working with people in our society and the world for
a
better quality of life.

Combined with my early life experiences growing up in southern
Ohio supporting a twelve-year-old brother and a younger sister,
and my long career as a professional athlete, I have been instilled
with great confidence, the value of sharing, and a strong sense
of responsibility.

Nourished with a strong belief in God and
strict discipline, I was taught as a youth to be a self-motivator.
My parents set a standard of high self-esteem, and urged me to
quest for a high and ethical standard of living. Unfortunately,
I lost
my mother when I was just eleven-years-old, and neither of my parents
lived long enough to see me carry out their hopes. September 14,
1968 is the day I found out I was being called to the Major Leagues.
Ironically, on the same day, I lost my Dad.

The loss of my parents also gave me first-hand experience in
dealing with the challenges of raising children. I “parented”
my pregnant teenage sister, and a younger brother who suffered from
anger, depression and unresolved grief at the premature loss of
our parents.

During my travels as a professional athlete, I have also seen
the problems and needs of various people and cultures. I have
seen the
damage to sports programs, schools, and homes that drugs, teen
pregnancy, teen suicide, juvenile delinquency and a host of other
family crises,
cause.

Although I was able to prevail in a highly-competitive career
with consistency while maintaining the high standards and self-esteem,
my parents forged in me -- I never hesitate to set aside time
for
people who need motivation and encouragement. People need hope,
and individuals who are concerned and willing to try, can make
a
difference.

I KNOW that I can make a difference through al-oliver.com, Al
Oliver Enterprises, Inc., and as a dynamic public and motivational
speaker
-- but mostly, through my desire to remain an achieving individual,
with faith and with the heart to help others – the values
my parents gave me.